Lucky Streak (Lucky 2)

MIKE WORKED the early shift Monday and returned to his apartment to find his cousin crashed out cold on the couch. As company, Mike didn’t mind Jason staying as long as he needed. But as a substitute for Amber, Jason Corwin came up short. Taking his cue from his cousin, Mike headed for bed, falling into a dreamless sleep.

He woke up the next morning to the loud sound of the TV blaring from the next room and immediately reassessed how he felt about his cousin’s visit.

Mike padded barefoot into the room, picked up the remote and hit the off button.

“Hey!” Jason grumbled, annoyed.

“Keep it down, will you?” Mike asked.

“Sorry,” the other man muttered as he leaned back against the sofa, hands locked behind his head.

“I know. Anything new?” Mike asked, realizing he’d overreacted. He was antsy without Amber here, something he hated to admit.

Jason shook his head. “Not in my life. I’m just waiting for the reporters to lose interest. According to my father, they’re out in full force. God knows what dirt they’ll dig up if they ask the right questions.” He rubbed his palms against his eyes.

Mike couldn’t imagine the pain his cousin must be feeling. “Everyone in town supports you. They aren’t going to give the press anything negative to print.”

“Except the Corwin curse,” Jason muttered.

“There is that,” Mike agreed.

Silence followed that pronouncement until Jason spoke first. “I feel awful leaving Dad to take the heat.” Jason ran a hand through his hair and rose from the couch. “I should just go back and face the music.”

Certain Jason wasn’t going anywhere, Mike sank into a chair. “I’d support that notion if your father wasn’t such a strong man. He can handle himself and you know that or you wouldn’t have gone into hiding in the first place. So just tell me one thing.”

Jason glanced over. “Name it.”

“Why aren’t you out there facing the press?” Jason was the risk-taking cousin. The rebel who didn’t give a damn what anyone thought. Or he had been.

“Because I want answers first. I need to know why the hell I tested positive. I have a hunch, but no proof. And since the Olympic committee is pretty strict when it comes to drugs, I don’t have a hope in hell of qualifying.” He slashed his hand through the air and sent a tall candlestick Mike’s mother had bought him onto the floor. “Oh, man, I’m sorry,” Jason said as he rushed to pick up the piece.

“Forget it.” Mike took the candlestick from his cousin’s hand and set it back on the table. “Look, anything you need, background checks of competitors, whatever, I’m here.”

&nb

sp; Jason shot him a look of gratitude. “I know that. I just need time to process the fact that it’s probably over for me. And you need time with your new wife. Speaking of Amber…” He let out a wolf whistle. “She’s one hot babe.”

Mike bristled at the crass description. “Lay off,” he warned his cousin.

Jason merely laughed, which didn’t help Mike’s mood. “Since I’ve sworn off the opposite sex, you have nothing to worry about from me. All I’m doing is admiring my cousin’s taste in women. And from what I could see, the rest of the family agrees.” Jason slapped Mike on the back the way he used to when he and Mike were kids. “The only one who doesn’t seem happy about your marriage is you.”

Mike scowled, disliking the reminder. “Didn’t I tell you how we met? Why she’s running from a goon named King Bobby?”

Jason grinned. “Yeah, you did. But aren’t I proof that circumstances and people aren’t always what they seem?” Jason asked, his smile fading.

“That’s different,” Mike said.

“Because you want it to be different.” His cousin eyed him intently. “Maybe you should be asking yourself why.”

Mike’s cell phone rang, saving him from unwanted introspection. He answered the call, identifying the P.I. from Texas on the other end.

Five minutes later, Mike had all the sordid information he needed on the very married, very cheating King Bobby Boyd.

“You look like you got good news,” Jason said.

Mike nodded, acknowledging the rush of knowing he’d found what he needed to keep Amber safe.

“Does that mean you’re going back to your wife?” Jason asked hopefully.